Accused stun-gun pimp once convinced judge to grant leniency

Granted leniency in 2013 incident, teen now accused as pimp

By Robert Gavin

Updated 10:15 pm, Thursday, October 1, 2015

Colonie

A reputed teenage pimp accused of possessing a loaded pistol and a stun gun in a motel room earlier this week was granted leniency for a 2013 armed home invasion after he begged an Albany County judge for "another chance in life."

Nizere Stephens, 18, was charged Tuesday with promoting prostitution, weapon possession and unlawful possession of marijuana after Colonie police arrested him in a Motel 6 room on Central Avenue where they said Stephens was pimping an 18-year-old woman found with burn marks that appeared to be from a stun gun.

Investigators acting on a search warrant raided the motel room about 6 p.m. where, they said, Stephens had the stun gun in his pocket. A loaded 10mm Smith & Wesson handgun was found hidden under the bed.

In December 2013, Albany County Judge Peter Lynch sentenced Stephens to seven months time served and probation after Stephens admitted he was among the robbers who invaded a Clinton Avenue home that May as two 15-year-old teenagers watched television. Lynch also granted Stephens youthful offender status, which sealed his convictions to a six-count burglary and robbery indictment.

"I just want another chance in life and be successful," Stevens told Lynch at the time, explaining he was "taught that doing the wrong thing was the right thing" and he did not want to live the life of a gang member.

"If I do get granted this Y.O. status I will take advantage of it and make something out of my life and become successful," Stevens told the judge.

At the time, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf argued that Stephens should not have been eligible for youthful offender status because three of the robbery counts he admitted to were armed violent felonies. But Lynch determined Stephens "basically went along with his co-defendants" and "felt pressured" to commit the home invasion when he was drunk and high.

Stephens walked from the courtroom beaming a smile.

Eight months later, Stephens pleaded guilty to forcible touching, a sex-related misdemeanor, for an incident in Malta, which violated his probation. He served time in the Saratoga County Jail after the arrest.